Creating a Twin Overlay: Concealed Hinge and H2 Mounting Plate

April 1, 2026

A twin overlay (half overlay) setup is used when two adjacent cabinet doors are mounted to a single, continuous centre dividing panel and share its front edge. This construction, often referred to as twin doors in professional cabinetry, requires specialist fittings. Because both doors rest on the same carcase panel, each door must cover barely half of the material thickness. To prevent collisions when opening and to maintain a clean reveal, a heavily cranked concealed hinge is used in combination with a matching cruciform mounting plate – frequently with an H2 spacing (2 mm).

In this buying guide for professional furniture making and assembly, we explain the exact technical specifications, how to calculate the door gap, and the correct selection of components to implement a twin overlay setup precisely.

Key Buying Criteria for Twin Overlay Hinges

When planning a cabinet run with continuous central dividers, several technical dimensions must work together. The choice of hinge and baseplate determines the final functionality.

Hinge Arm Cranking

Whilst a full overlay hinge features a straight arm, a hinge for a half overlay (twin overlay) has a distinct bend (the cranking). This cranking is typically around 9.5 mm. It shifts the door pivot point further inwards, effectively halving the door overlay onto the carcase side panel.

Cup Diameter and Drilling Depth

The standard cup diameter for furniture hinges in cabinet making is 35 mm. The required drilling depth into the door leaf is generally 11.5 mm to 12.5 mm. For lighter or very narrow doors, mini hinges measuring 26 mm exist, but in standard furniture making, builders rely almost exclusively on concealed hinges 35 mm, as these safely support the leverage forces of heavier sheet materials such as MDF or chipboard.

Mounting Plate Spacing (H0 vs. H2)

The cruciform mounting plate connects the hinge to the carcase panel. The height (spacing) of the plate directly influences the door overlay dimension. Here is a calculation example for a 16 mm thick centre panel: when two doors are mounted to this 16 mm panel, a theoretical space of 8 mm is available per door. Subtracting a necessary gap of 1.5 mm per door, each door may cover a maximum of 6.5 mm. If you use a half overlay hinge with an H0 plate (0 mm spacing), the door often covers 8 mm to 9 mm – causing the doors to collide. By using an H2 mounting plate (2 mm spacing), the entire hinge body is moved 2 mm away from the carcase wall. The overlay is reduced by exactly this 2 mm to the required 6.5 mm, allowing the system to operate smoothly.

Opening Angle

For classic wardrobes, overhead kitchen cabinets, or sideboards, an opening angle of 110° is the absolute standard. This angle provides convenient access to cabinet contents without the door protruding excessively into the room or damaging neighbouring furniture. For corner solutions or internal drawers, larger angles are chosen, but for standard twin overlays, concealed hinges / cabinet hinges 110 degrees are the technically safest choice.

Types and Options at a Glance

A twin overlay configuration can be achieved with various hinge technologies, depending on requirements for comfort and weight.

Standard concealed hinges (unsprung/sprung without soft-close): The purely mechanical solution. They close automatically over the final centimetres via an integrated spring, but without damping. Ideal for workshop cabinets, simple office furniture, or when separate drill-in door buffers are retrofitted on site.
Concealed hinges with integrated soft-close: Here, a hydraulic damper is integrated directly inside the hinge cup or the hinge arm. This soft-close system absorbs the momentum of the closing door, drawing it silently and gently onto the carcase over the final degrees. Concealed hinges / cabinet hinges with damping (Soft Close) are the modern standard for high-quality interior joinery.
Clip-on vs. slide-on technology: With clip-on installation, the hinge clips onto the mounting plate without tools. This saves significant time during the final assembly of large cabinet runs compared to older slide-on systems secured with a fixing screw.

Which Hinge for Which Application? (Decision Guide)

Selecting the right concealed hinges / cabinet hinges for your project follows clear technical parameters:

Building a cabinet with 16 mm centre panels: You must choose a concealed hinge for half overlay (twin overlay) in combination with an H2 mounting plate. This is the only way to ensure the reveal between the twin doors is large enough (at least a 3 mm total gap) so they do not rub against each other when opened simultaneously.
Mounting heavy, tall doors (e.g. 2000 mm x 600 mm): Use at least 4 to 5 hinges per door. Select models with soft-close, as the heavy dead weight of the door (e.g. 19 mm MDF) transfers massive force to the carcase edges if allowed to slam unbraked.
Planning handleless fronts: Avoid hinges with integrated soft-close. Handleless systems (push-to-open / tip-on) require hinges without an automatic closing spring (unsprung) or with specialised push kinematics, otherwise the damper works against the release mechanism.

Installation Guide: Fitting a Twin Overlay

Correct installation demands accuracy. Setting the door reveal using the eccentric screw requires fine adjustment – millimetre precision determines flawless movement.

Required Tools:

Cordless drill/driver
35 mm Forstner bit
5 mm wood drill bit (for System 32)
PZ2 or TX20 screwdriver (depending on screw type)
Try square and folding rule

Step-by-Step Installation:

Drill the cup hole: Drill the 35 mm hole into the door. The cup drilling distance (dimension from the door edge to the edge of the hole) is usually 4 mm or 5 mm according to the manufacturer table. The drilling depth is approx. 12 mm.
Position the mounting plate: The baseplates are fixed into the carcase according to System 32. The front line of holes sits exactly 37 mm from the carcase front edge. The distance between the fixing holes is 32 mm.
Fixing: Screw the H2 mounting plate to the centre panel using Euro screws (for 5 mm drillings) or standard woodscrews (usually 4 x 16 mm). For twin doors on a 19 mm centre panel, you can screw the plates for the left and right doors back-to-back at the exact same height. On a 16 mm panel, the vertical positions should be staggered slightly to prevent the screw tips colliding in the middle.
Clip on and adjust: Hold the door in place and clip the hinge arm onto the plate. Use the three adjustment screws on the hinge arm for 3D alignment:

Depth adjustment: Distance between the door and the carcase (gap dimension).
Overlay adjustment: Lateral alignment of the door (reveal width between twin doors).
Height adjustment: Vertical alignment (typically via the slotted holes on the mounting plate).

FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions about Twin Overlays

What is the difference between a full overlay and a half overlay? With a full overlay, the door covers the lateral carcase panel almost entirely. Such hinges have a straight arm. With a half overlay (twin overlay), two doors share one central dividing panel. The hinge is cranked so that each door covers only half the edge thickness.

When do I need an H2 mounting plate? An H2 plate (2 mm spacing) is primarily required for twin overlay setups on thinner centre dividers (e.g. 16 mm). It reduces the door overlay by 2 mm, increasing the gap between both doors to prevent the fronts catching on each other when opened.

Can I build an inset door setup using a half overlay hinge? No. For inset doors (where the door sits flush inside the carcase opening), you require a heavily cranked hinge designed for inset applications. The cranking on an inset hinge is even more pronounced (approx. 17 mm) than on a half overlay hinge.

Why does my twin door not close fully? If the door catches or pops open, the reveal between the two doors is usually too narrow. Increase the gap by adjusting the front lateral screw (overlay adjustment) on the hinge arm, or replace the H0 mounting plate with an H2 plate.

Which screws are suitable for the mounting plate? If the carcase has pre-drilled 5 mm system holes, use Euro screws. For un-drilled panels made from chipboard or solid wood, use countersunk woodscrews (Ø 3.5 mm or 4 mm, max. length 16 mm for 19 mm board thickness).

Matching Products and Categories

To equip your project with the correct fittings, explore the relevant hardware components for twin overlay and alternative constructions:

Concealed hinges half overlay – The correct choice for twin doors on continuous centre panels.
Concealed hinges full overlay – For standard external overlay doors on outer carcase sides.
Concealed hinges inset – For flush, inset cabinet fronts.
Concealed hinges / cabinet hinges with damping (Soft Close) – For silent, gentle closing of heavy furniture doors.
Concealed hinges / cabinet hinges 110 degrees – The standard opening angle for nearly all standard cabinet constructions.